how many books are in the catholic bible
There are 73 books in the Catholic Bible: 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
Quick Scoop: Core Answer
- Total books in the Catholic Bible: 73.
- Old Testament: 46 books , including the deuterocanonical books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1–2 Maccabees, plus additional sections in Esther and Daniel.
- New Testament: 27 books , the same as in most other Christian traditions.
Why 73 and Not 66?
From a Catholic perspective, the Bible’s 73-book canon reflects the Church’s long-standing use of the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), which included the deuterocanonical books. Protestant Bibles usually have 66 books , because they do not include those seven deuterocanonical books and the extra parts of Esther and Daniel.
Many Catholic educators and scholars emphasize that the canon (official list of books) was recognized and reaffirmed in Church councils and teaching over many centuries, and later firmly restated at the Council of Trent in the 16th century.
Catholic vs. Protestant Bible at a Glance
Here’s a simple comparison for context:
| Tradition | Total Books | Old Testament | New Testament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Bible | 73 | [9][1][3]46 (includes deuterocanonical books) | [1][3][9]27 | [3][9][1]
| Typical Protestant Bible | 66 | [8][9][3]39 (excludes deuterocanonical books) | [8][9][3]27 | [8][9][3]
Deuterocanonical Books (Extra in Catholic OT)
These are the key Old Testament books you’ll find in a Catholic Bible that are usually missing from Protestant editions:
- Tobit
- Judith
- Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon)
- Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
- Baruch
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- Plus added passages in Esther and Daniel.
Catholics call them deuterocanonical (“second canon”), while many Protestants group them under Apocrypha and treat them as helpful but not on the same level as Scripture.
Mini Story: Why a Catholic Bible Feels “Thicker”
Imagine two friends buying Bibles: one picks up a standard Protestant edition, the other grabs a Catholic one. When they compare, the Catholic Bible feels a bit heavier and its Old Testament table of contents is longer. That extra “weight” is mostly those deuterocanonical books and the expanded sections of Esther and Daniel, which the Catholic Church regards as fully inspired Scripture and has kept in regular liturgical use for centuries.
TL;DR: The Catholic Bible has 73 books —46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament—because it includes the deuterocanonical books and additional passages not found in most Protestant Bibles.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
